232 TRAVELS THROUGH 

 ihould fuppofe they would not long be 

 without having gone over moft of them. 



M. le Vicomte de Beaune being at this 

 time at IfToire, and, having a letter of re- 

 commendation to him, I waited on him 

 the next morning. He was unfortunately 

 fo much engaged in provincial bufinefs, 

 that he could give but little attention to 

 the letter. He was, however, very civil ; 

 told me, the only thing in Auvergne that 

 was particularly worthy my attention, was 

 the improvements of M. de la Place at 

 Murat, in the mountains. His hiftory was 

 very extraordinary, and his attention to 

 hufbandry fo great, that I could not fail of 

 being pleafed with feeing him. Upon faying 

 which, he called for paper, and wrote a 

 letter to him, which he gave me ; and I, 

 finding him much engaged, took my leave, 

 having my curioiity much raifed at the ac- 

 count he gave me of M. de la Place. I 

 therefore determined to make the befl of 

 my way to Murat. With this intention I 

 took the road thither early in the morning 

 of the 23d, and got there by night, not 

 without fome difficulty ; for the latter part 

 of the journey was very rough and moun- 

 tainous, 



